Local Sunshine Coast clubs say Aussies will be bigger and better in 2021

With the 2020 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships cancelled due to COVID-19, local Sunshine Coast clubs say they’re ready to host the “Aussies reunion” in 2021. 

Each year the Aussies attracts over 7,000 competitors and 20,000 spectators from around Australia who will converge on local Sunshine Coast shores in April next year for the nine-day event. 

Last weekend would’ve marked final stages of the 2020 Aussies and for some this is a stark reminder of what could’ve been but for local host clubs of Alexandra Headlands, Maroochydore and Mooloolaba, they say that the event in 2021 will be memorable and all involved should already be excited.   

Alexandra Headlands President Ashley Robinson said the club was looking forward to being one of the host clubs for the 2021 Aussies. 

“It’ll be a reunion because we missed out this year, so that should bring a good carnival atmosphere,” Robinson said. 

“At Alex we’re looking forward to putting in a really strong team, to win some gold medals and have a bit of fun at our own beach on the Sunshine Coast.  

“We’re very excited about having it on our home beach and we’re looking forward to putting on a really good fun event, and it’s great to be able to work with Maroochydore and Mooloolaba.” 

Mooloolaba SLSC President Shane Linton said he is hoping that the 2021 Aussies on the Sunshine Coast will be “bigger and better”. 

“We’re excited! As a club we’re excited but also for the Sunshine Coast,” Linton said. 

“It’s going to take a bit to get through the rest of this year and this is something really positive on the horizon that we can look forward to for the club and for the movement to be able to look ahead to.” 

Deputy President and soon to be President of Maroochydore SLSC Rob Elford said that the 2016 Aussies on the Sunshine Coast were one of “the most spectacular Aussies the Surf Life Saving movement has seen in year”.  

“When the Aussies was last on the Sunshine Coast the clubs as a consortium being Alex (Alexandra Headlands), Maroochydore and Mooloolaba ran one of the most successful Aussies in decades,” Elford said. 

“Next year we’re all looking to forward to having it back again and proving that it wasn’t just a one off and that we can run an Aussies just as well, if not better than the Gold Coast clubs.  

“It’s good for the area, good for the clubs and good for Surf Life Saving,” added Elford. 

Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said the event would play an important role in the region’s recovery.

“Events are a vital component of Queensland’s tourism economy and they will play an important role in the recovery once we are through the ongoing challenges of COVID-19,” Minister Jones said.

“While the tourism and events industry is enduring an incredibly difficult period right now, we know events like this will help entice people back to the regions when it is safe to travel again. They’ll also provide the perfect platform to showcase the beauty of our regions to travellers looking for their next travel fix.

“The Sunshine Coast will be wonderful hosts of the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships and we can’t wait to see them return, bigger and better than ever in 2021.”

Sunshine Coast Council Division 8 Councillor Jason O’Pray said the region was looking forward to hosting the event again.

“Once it is safe for our community to do so, we look forward to welcoming back this great event, its competitors and participants to our beautiful region,” Cr O’Pray said.

“Surf Life Saving is entwined in our region’s DNA. Aussies 2016 was held on our shores and was, without a doubt, a highly successful event and added another great chapter to our region’s surf sports history.

“We can’t wait for the Aussies 2021!”

The last Aussies to be held on the Sunshine Coast in 2016 celebrated the 100^th year anniversary of The Australian Surf Life Saving Championships and was a great spectacle and celebration for everyone in the Surf Life Saving movement.  

The Aussies 2021 will be held from 16-24 April across the beaches of Alexandra Headlands, Maroochydore and Mooloolaba with the support of Tourism and Events Queensland and the Sunshine Coast Council.